Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor

James M. Scott

Apr 2015 · W. W. Norton & Company

About this ebook

Finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in History

"Like Lauren Hillebrand's Unbroken…Target Tokyo brings to life an indelible era." —Ben Cosgrove, The Daily Beast

On April 18, 1942, sixteen U.S. Army bombers under the command of daredevil pilot Jimmy Doolittle lifted off from the deck of the USS Hornet on a one-way mission to pummel Japan’s factories, refineries, and dockyards in retaliation for their attack on Pearl Harbor. The raid buoyed America’s morale, and prompted an ill-fated Japanese attempt to seize Midway that turned the tide of the war. But it came at a horrific cost: an estimated 250,000 Chinese died in retaliation by the Japanese. Deeply researched and brilliantly written, Target Tokyo has been hailed as the definitive account of one of America’s most daring military operations.

Ratings and reviews

A very good read . I highly recommend it. His pilot - by - pilot account of each bomb run is very interesting. A must read. I could not put it down. The best book on the subject ever written. They need to make a movie about this. It's been a long time since " thirty seconds over Tokyo ". Are you reading this Angelina Jolie? Go for it !!

A real page turner, hard to put down, and no "filler". Even if you aren't a fan of war stories, this is worth reading for the historical significance of the raid on Tokyo and its effects in Japan, China, and the US. Excellent attention to detail in all aspects, definitely a 5 star effort.

A really intriging story well told. This greatly adds to our understanding of the sacrifices of America's young men.

About the author

James M. Scott is the author of Black Snow, Rampage, and Target Tokyo, a Pulitzer Prize finalist. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.